by Ylleya Fields
Princess Cupcake Jones has lost her beloved tutu. In her quest to find it, Cupcake learns the importance of tidying up and putting things in their proper place. As an added bonus in each book of the series, children will also have fun finding the hidden word in each inviting illustration. Helpful hints are a part of the book’s website, which also features downloadable color pages and other activities.
by Gayle E. Pitman
With short rhyming text, and fun colorful illustrations, This Day in June gives preschool and early elementary aged children and their favorite grown up a chance to experience an LGBT Pride Parade from the comfort of their own couch! Filled with balloons, children, happy marching people, dogs, motorcycles, fancy clothes, rainbows, and confetti, this book is a joyful celebration of a Pride parade, traditionally held during the month of June. Written by a professor of psychology and women’s studies, this book also has carefully researched end pages which explain the history and significance of the words and pictures on each page, as well as recommendations for parents on ways to talk to different ages of children (3-5, 6-12, 13-18) about what it means to be LGBT, and how to answer children’s questions in age appropriate ways.
by Emily Jenkins
What a great non-fiction read aloud book! This book follows the making of a dessert, blackberry fool, over four centuries–the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s. In this fascinating picture book, four families, in four different cities, over four centuries, make the same delicious dessert: blackberry fool. This richly detailed book ingeniously shows how food, technology, and even families have changed throughout American history. Bonus: a recipe for blackberry fool is included if you want to make it with your little ones.
by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Spencer loves to read. He reads a book every night. But one morning his favorite book goes missing, and in its place is a tulip. Spencer searches high and low, but he can’t find his book. The next morning another book is missing, a nut in its place. And the morning after that, another book is missing. What is happening to Spencer’s books? When he finds out, Spencer devises a surprising solution that will delight readers everywhere.
by Tatayna Feeney
Small Elephant’s mommy tries to make the bath more fun with toys and bubbles, but he is not fooled. He is too busy to take a bath. He has said no many times. He is getting very cross. And then he disappears! But Small Elephant’s daddy has a way to make the bath fun. He may look silly doing it—but it just might work! This is a great book for dads to read to the kids in celebration of Father’s Day this month.
by Britta Teckentrup
A fun lift-the-flap book that introduces young readers to the basic concepts of counting and patterns. Each is a boisterous, vivid trek of discovery, providing irresistible clues which encourage lifting the flap to see what’s coming up next.
by Alison Inches
What’s a girl to do when her stuffed animals just aren’t sleepy? The little red hen is fixing herself a snack, the monkey’s doing cartwheels, and the cow appears to be singing karaoke. It’s a good thing this little mommy has a few tricks up her sleeve. With a bit of persistence and a lot of tender loving care, she’ll get her babies bathed, read to, and snuggled . . . just in time for bed.
by Edward Gibbs
Look through the holes to see what pets you can spy in this fun interactive book.
Smooth or furry, shiny or fluffy, there are many pets to spot in this fun take on the “I spy” game. Look through the spy holes and use the texture clues to guess; then turn the page to reveal the animal. This book is part of the “I Spy Series” written by the same author.
by Craig Fraizer
Bee & Bird is a charming wordless story illustrated by the iconic artist Craig Frazier. With bold colors and graphic lines Frazier shows us the adventures of a little red bird and a buzzing bee as they journey from Bird’s home in a tree to Bee’s hive. The illustrations use interesting plays on perspective to draw in the viewer. This book may be especially enjoyed by little ones who does not always have the patience to listen to a story. The vibrant illustrations will be sure to interest even the most distracted reader.
Will Smith— musician, actor, and father–brings us a moving celebration of fatherhood. Smith’s heartfelt lyrics and Kadir Nelson’s vibrant paintings capture the beauty and intensity of a father’s love as his child grows from a boy into a man.
Giles Andreae is quickly becoming one of my favorite children’s authors. We loved the book Rumble in the Jungle and this one is great too. This book contains an energetic collection of poems that introduces fifteen amazing insects. Vibrantly illustrated, each humorous verse features a different insect and also includes an interesting fact about them. A great book to read during the spring and summer to explore bugs in your own backyard.
The Whole Night Through: A Lullaby
by David Frampton
I just love when I find a fun bedtime story to read to the kids right before bed. Every animal in the jungle has closed its eyes for the night-everyone except the leopard. He is determined to stay awake the whole night through, but suddenly, wink…blink…yawn…yawn…shushhhhhhhhhh . David Frampton has created a charming lullaby for tiny children who try very hard every night to stay awake, Rhythmic text and beautiful woodcuts of jungle animals combine to make a perfect book to share at bedtime.
by Josie Bissett
A loveable monster with big puffy mitts has just flown in from Planet Tickle. His mission is to bring joy and laughter to Planet Earth. How? By tickling any child who happens to follow along in this book. Parents read aloud and do the tickling, while their children squirm and giggle with delight. My little man, Mr. Tickles adores this book!
by Harriet Ziefert
Whether you are a person or a bear, sometimes it is hard to decide what clothing to wear when you get up in the morning. In Bear Gets Dressed: A Guessing Game Story, Bear must decide what to wear before he goes out to enjoy the day. Poor Bear knows that sometimes the weather can make one outfit better than another. However, he just isn’t sure what to wear. Each page features a simple lift-the-flap that asks the reader to pick the best outfit for Bear. Once the reader picks the best clothes, you can lift the flap to see if you were right! With repetitive and rhyming text, along with sweet and playful illustrations, this simple book could become a family favorite!
Your turn: Have you read any of these books with your little ones? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
